Question:
I am currently studying about the PDC of Rick Warren. I appreciate
your articles. Here are my questions and concerns:
1. If people who would never go to church, are attracted, and accept
Christ as their Savior, Does not that make all the negatives of
his system of little importance in the long run? after all, they do
hear the gospel and there must be many that are truly converted.
(Playing the devils advocate here)
2. I have heard that the Scriptures are not looked at as God's
Inspired words , but that only parts are really inspired. So, they
ignore many parts of it. "Get them to church, get them saved and get
them into the Gospel of John", I believe is their motto.
3. They use the term, "The Authority of the Bible". This seems to be
a step down from the Historical View of the Scriptures but I am not
sure how? What do they mean by that?
Answer:
You have asked some very good questions, and I am praying that God give
me wisdom to answer you.
1. It
is wonderful when people who never go to church otherwise are attracted
to the PDC and
truly
accept Christ as their Savior (keeping in mind that many give verbal
assent to the a positive presentation of the gospel without actually
being “born again”). But the wonder of spiritual rebirth doesn’t
diminish the danger of distorting the truth, which
is
-
changing people's understanding of the gospel,
-
undermining the holiness of God and the authority of His guidelines, and
-
minimizing or deleting key aspects of our walk with Christ -- such
as sin, guilt, repentance and obedience to His Word. As He said:
"He
who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And
he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and
manifest Myself to him....
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My
word; and My Father will love him, eand We will come to him and
make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My
words...." John 14:21-24
As
this transformational movement progresses, Biblical Christianity is being replaced with
postmodern imitations that both draw and deceive the masses. What they
see as postmodern Christianity will be a worldly adaptation of a
compromise religion purged of “the offense of the gospel.” Remember
these Scriptures:
“I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
Therefore take heed
to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased
with His own blood. "
Acts 20:28
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love
him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does
not love Me does not keep My words...."
John 14:23-24
"These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with
their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship
Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
Matthew 15:8-9
“Well
did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This
people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments
of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the
tradition of men." Mark
7:6-8
"I
marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in
the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another;
but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of
Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be
accursed."
Galatians 1:6-8
“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the
wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away
the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the
word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and
in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns
are those who, when they have heard, go out and are
choked with cares, riches, and
pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But
the ones that fell on the good ground are
those who, having heard the word
with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with
patience.
"
Luke 8:11-15
2. The first Scripture below refutes the assumption that man can pick
and choose what he likes from the Bible. The second one shows man’s
natural inclination:
"All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for
reproof, for
correction, for
instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“...the light has come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because
their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and
does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed....”
John 3:19